By Victor Kanayo
Disturbing reports have clarified that Libyan authorities are currently holding Nigeria’s Super Eagles stars and officials hostage at the Al Abaq airport in Al Abaq.
This is after the team’s plane was diverted, few minutes to landing in Benghazi, where it was earlier scheduled from Abuja.
The Super Eagles with mainly foreign professional professionals who ply their trade in Europe are currently kept stranded at the airport, according to a trending video from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The team will now travel by road to Benghazi, the location for the return fixture, which is up to 3 hours, 30 minutes drive.
Confirming the situation, NFF officials who have cried out for international intervention said their aircraft was first diverted from the original destination of Benghazi where the match will be played to a place which is more than two hours drive to the match venue.
Libya were at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, on Friday for the first leg matchday three of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers against the Super Eagles.
Before the game, the officials of the Libyan national team claimed that the football authorities in Nigeria did not give them a befitting treatment when they touched down in the country.
During the game, the Mediterranean Knights frustrated Super Eagles players by using time-wasting tactics to end the game with a draw.
Unfortunately for them, their tactics backfired as the Super Eagles finally scored in the last ten minutes of the encounter, prompting the game to end 1-0 win in favour of Nigeria.
